Tao Qian let out a low shout, and the old goat adept in the Subterranean Evasion Technique, Yang Ding, was reduced to ashes, without even a moment's struggle.
If others had witnessed this scene, they might have mistakenly believed Tao Qian was a deeply hidden expert.
But in fact, Tao Qian himself was still bewildered.
A second later, he finally regained his senses.
A multitude of thoughts swirled in his mind, searching for a rational explanation.
"This old man had just finished casting, and was in the midst of paying the price, at his most vulnerable."
"Furthermore, his lack of combat skills, when unexpectedly ambushed by me, made his lack of resistance quite normal."
"There's also the fact that the Bo Dragon Bloodline is indeed extraordinary, as described in the Record, the 'Sound Attack' Divine Skill was in no way exaggerated."
"I merely let out a low shout and it scattered the old man's Soul. If I were to fully release it, with a voice that could suppress everything within several miles, could I truly make a group of demons yield?"
"Wait a second, the old man didn't leave anything behind, so doesn't that mean my reward too would be..."
As Tao Qian pondered, he suddenly remembered something and his expression instantly soured.
Though Tao Qian didn't plan to claim the reward at the government office personally, whether through an intermediary or some other method, evidence was always needed.
A corpse or a head would do, but tattered clothes were unlikely to be recognized by anyone.
Thinking of the "two hundred silver coins" slipping away, Tao Qian felt as though his heart was being sliced with a knife.
Intent on recovering any loss he could, however small, Tao Qian grimaced and began to search through the pile of clothes on the ground.
This action is commonly known as searching a corpse.
Quickly, Tao Qian's face showed a look of surprise, and when he got up, his hands held several more items.
A money pouch containing several silver coins, a few silver dimes, and dozens of copper coins.
There was also a dung-ball-shaped object, as well as an extremely thin booklet.
The silver coins brought Tao Qian some joy, but it was the two items that gave him a palpable thrill that truly delighted him.
Yes, both were transcendent.
Upon touching them, Tao Qian had sensed detailed information which still appeared in that strange format.
[Name: Qu Worm Feces Stone]
[Record Type: Exotic Treasure.]
[Record: Qu Worms, common underground insects, are not particularly rare and are typically unsuitable for supernatural use. However, should these worms be touched by celestial signs and begin to show Abnormality, they will gather millions beneath the ground, about a yard deep, mating and devouring each other ceaselessly, day and night. After seven days, they will burst through the surface and excrete feces stones, numbering in the hundreds or even thousands. These stones are supernatural and have many wonderful uses, all for a meager price.]
[Note one: The stone must not be consumed. Anyone who does will be defiled by the dung qi within and die vomiting.]
[Note two: Carrying this stone on one's person may emit a foul stench, but in cases of Earth Dragons turning over, landslides, and other disasters, it can provide an early warning.]
[Note three: This stone can detoxify. For those severely poisoned, a piece the size of a fingernail, placed under the nose, will induce vomiting for half a day, until the stomach and intestines are clear and the poison is resolved.]
[Note four: For those practicing Exotic Skill related to earth or dirt, using this stone can mitigate part of the Exemption Cost.]
[Note five: Exemption Cost is waived!]
...
[Name: Earth Element Manual.]
[Record Type: Exotic Treasure.]
[Record: This manual was created by a strange person of the worldly society, steeped in heresy and heterodoxy. Although their cultivation was not low and their talent was remarkable, they still could not cure a particular quirk. This person loved to steal, targeting only common households, stealing old clothes, pots and pans, leftovers and the like. To facilitate this, they created this Magic Skill. After practicing, one could escape underground for several miles, even tens of miles.]
[Note one: Upon acquiring this skill, each use will defile the body with the Earth Element qi. Over time, one will adopt some Earth Elemental behaviors, such as avoiding light, preferring darkness, eating rotten things, until eventually, irreversibly, adopting all of the Earth Element's behaviors, burrowing underground, never to see the sun again.]
[Note two: To train in this skill, one must consume one Earth Centipede daily. The more consumed, the higher the success rate.]
[Note three: Exemption Cost is waived!]
...
The information was complex, but Tao Qian, who was already entirely familiar, absorbed it all in the blink of an eye.
Then, a complex look appeared on his face.
Without a doubt, both items were valuable.
The stinky dung stone, if one could overlook its origin and shape, would be an Exotic Treasure, especially with no associated cost to use.
And so would the Earth Element Manual.
Who among those who proclaim, "The meek method is the true path," would refuse an Earth Escape Technique?
What made Tao Qian hesitate was that although he could exempt the technique's cost, he could not negate the rule that one must consume Earth Centipedes to train in it.
So-called Earth Centipedes, they didn't sound like tasty critters.
After some thought, Tao Qian heaved a deep sigh, and then pocketed both Exotic Treasures.
Afterward, Tao Qian once again merged into the shadows, silently waiting.
About a few minutes later, a "dull yellow" brilliance suddenly lit up the dark alley again.
A mass of yellow shadow burst from the ground, quickly forming a tangible body in mid-air.
Was it pretty boy Zhang Xian?
Indeed, it was.
But at this moment, a transformation of tremendous magnitude had overtaken his body.
Originally a frail, pale-faced youth, he had now bloated into a round and chubby figure, his robe stretched to the limit with something squirming inside.
Behind him, approximately four fresh red flesh tentacles, still wrapped in mucus and resembling python snakes, swayed.
Three of these tentacles were binding a garishly dressed, plump woman, while the remaining one swayed in front of the woman's face. The tip of this flesh whisker even had a bloodied mouth, capable of spewing out a white smoky unknown gas.
It seemed that the woman was in a constant state of confusion because of the gas.
Witnessing this scene, Tao Qian had no doubts left.
This "Zhang Xian's" so-called hypnotism Exotic Skill was nothing but an effect derived from the body alteration Magic he cultivated.
As Tao Qian conceived this idea, Zhang Xian, now indistinguishable from a monster or demon, also sensed something awry.
Yang Ding had disappeared.
Zhang Xian's brows furrowed, and he became alert at once, intending to take some action.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
A figure had somehow appeared at his side.
"You beast, you truly disgust me."
As Tao Qian uttered these words, another low shout penetrated Zhang Xian's mind.
The distance between the two was indeed very close.
If Tao Qian wished, he could let Zhang Xian experience what it felt like to be torn asunder by the Power of Bo Dragon.
He had originally planned to do so, but upon seeing Zhang Xian's revolting appearance, Tao Qian abandoned the idea.
He longed for a hearty and visceral fight, punch for punch with his opponent.
But that also depended on who he was fighting. In front of this thing? Tao Qian declined.
A Bo Dragon Sound, far more formidable than the one previously dealt to the old sheep-whiskered man, was sent by Tao Qian into Zhang Xian's ears.
"Who are you...?"
"Ah!"
When Zhang Xian realized he was under sneak attack, he had many contingency plans.
His experience in worldly society was not something Tao Qian could compare with. He had originally planned to interrupt the assailant and then escape.
He had even begun to relax the three bloodied flesh tentacles behind him, preparing to hurl Miss Zhou, using her as a makeshift weapon.
If necessary, he was even ready to turn back to the Zhou Mansion to take hostages.
He had many thoughts, and if he could find a gap, his chances of success were very high.
Unfortunately, he encountered an unreasonable opponent and an equally unreasonable mode of attack.
"Roar!"
Bo Dragon Sound struck his ear, like a barbaric drum reverberating violently.
The same thing that Yang Ding had experienced, he now endured as well.
In a daze, he saw the terrifying Exotic Beast, a mixture between a dragon and a Bo, charging with the force of a storm, thunder, and lightning, brutally shattering his Spirit and Soul, followed by ripping and tearing until everything was utterly and thoroughly destroyed.
As the leader of the gang, Zhang Xian actually possessed some methods unknown to the other three.
He had some protection for his Spirit and Soul.
But alas, he had not yet entered the true Energy-Introducing Realm.
The gap between their Cultivation and Divine Skills was too great.
With just one sound, Zhang Xian was dead.
Unlike the old goat-whiskered man who died in a state of Subterranean Evasion, Zhang Xian's body still remained.
Yet in a blink, deprived of its master, all "Mutated" traits retracted as blood gushed from the seven orifices.
Thud, thud—two bodies hit the ground.
One was Zhang Xian, and the other the somewhat more substantial Miss Zhou.
Tao Qian first made sure that the Zhou family's daughter was unharmed, simply bewildered by the hypnotic gas.
Then, he rubbed his hands together and walked straight toward Zhang Xian.
Killing the first Heterodox Mage, Yang Ding, Tao Qian had felt somewhat uncomfortable.
In a short time, having killed a second one, he had completely adapted.
Of course, it might also be because, for both sneak attacks, he used the Bo Dragon Sound; had the fight been hand to hand, Tao Qian might have felt differently.
Approaching the corpse of Zhang Xian, which had returned to its original state, Tao Qian touched it briefly.
The triggered sense of information confirmed for Tao Qian the beast's death.
Afterward, his face lit up with a hint of anticipation as he slowly reached out his hands.
Search the body—akin to opening a mystery box, it could become addictive.
Especially when there were gains, Tao Qian could hardly suppress the joy on his face.
For example, in the next moment, his hands stumbled upon something he couldn't help but smile at with a radiant curve.